Health Care / Health Reform Connect®

CMS published its 1,250 page 2018 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule (“PFS”) on November 2, 2017.[1] In addition to the finalized changes to payment for non-excepted off-campus provider-based departments (discussed in detail here), the following are other important PFS changes, effective January...

340B covered entities are facing major changes in the way the discount drug program is reimbursed and administered. On November 1, 2017, CMS made available its 2018 Outpatient Prospective Payment System Final Rule (“Final Rule”).[1] The Final Rule implements, in total, drastic reimbursement...

On November 1, 2017, CMS published its 2018 Outpatient Prospective Payment System OPPS Final Rule (“Final Rule”).[1] In addition to numerous changes to the 340B Discount Drug Program, the Final Rule finalizes other important rule changes requiring providers’ close consideration. Barring...

In May 2017, the Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 1107,[1] which cleared a path for the State’s various heath care professional boards, including the Texas Medical Board (“TMB”) and Texas State Board of Pharmacy (“TBP”), to offer greater, easier access to telemedicine services. On September 15,...

The State Medical Board of Ohio recently issued a Frequently Asked Questions Guidance Document (“FAQ”) on Rule 4731-11-09 of the Ohio Administrative Code, which governs when a physician or physician assistant can prescribe medication to a patient that they have not conducted an in-person...

On September 7, 2017, the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) published Opinion 17-05 (“Opinion”) that allowed a retail pharmacy to include Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries in the pharmacy’s discount benefit program. The OIG determined that the program design did not...